Gravity closing two-way swinging door hinge



Aug. 3, 1954 w. G. FORKEY 2,685,102

GRAVITY CLOSING TWO-WAY SWINGING DOOR HINGE Filed Jan. 11, 1850 3 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEYS 1954 w. G. FORKEY GRAVITY CLOSING TWO-WAY SWINGING DOOR HINGE ATTU R N EYS INVENTOR.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 11, 1950 fmj' Aug. 3, 1954 Filed Jan. 11, 1950 W. G. FORKEY GRAVITY CLOSING TWO-WAY SWINGING DOOR HINGE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 I N VEN TOR.

ATTIJ R N EYS Patented Aug. 3, 1954 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE GRAVITY CLOSING TWO-WAY SWIN GIN G DOOR HINGE Willard G. Forkey,

Forkey, sole heir of s ceased Augusta, Ga.; Margaret aid Willard G. Forkey, de-

Application January 11, 1950, Serial No. 138,044

2 Claims.

invention is, therefore, to provide means for forming a pair of hinges for a two-way swinging door wherein one hinge re- A further object of the invention is to provide a pair of gravity cam actuated door hinges for two-Way swinging doors with one hinge posiin the hinges are of struction.

With these and other objects andadvantages in view the invention embodies a pair of hinges having cam surfaces extended from base plates on a. door jamb or frame,

coacting cam surfaces extended from base plates on a door, pins extended through hubs positioned on the base plates, and springs urging the cam surfaces in engaging relation.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view showing on the far side of the center.

Figure 2 is a similar view showing the door actuated through an angle of from the position shown in Figure l and with parts of the door broken away to show the position of the hinge elements with the door in this position.

Figure 3 is a plan view showing the door and door jamb in section with the door shown in full lines in the closed position and in dotted lines in the open position.

Figure 4 is a similar tion of the door on the ing.

Figure 5 is a detail illustrating the position of the hinge elements with parts shown in section and with the door in the closed position.

Figure 6- is a similar view showing the hinge of the door positioned in the opposite side of the frame.

Figure 7 is a detail showing the two positions of the cam, wherein the upper inverted cam rides downwardly on the lower cam to close a door.

Figure 8 is a sectional plan taken on line 8-8 of Figure l with the door in the open position as illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 9 is a detail showing a modification illusrating one of the cam elements on a base plate view illustrating the posiopposite side of the openof the plate and with other parts omitted.

Figure 10 is a side elevation of the hinge plate and cam surface shown in Figure 9.

Figure 11 is a view showing a portion of a base plate of a hinge having a cam shaped to coact with the cam surface shown in Figure 9, the upper part of the base plate thereof being broken away.

Figure 12 is a similar view showing a side elevation of the base plate and coacting cam surface.

Figure 13 is a detail similar to that shown in Figure 4 illustrating a modification wherein the hinge plate extends straight outwardly from the center of the hinge.

Figure 14 is a similar view showing the combination of the hinge or base plate shown in Figures 4 and 13 wherein the base plates are angular shaped in cross section.

Figure 15 is a front elevational view illustrating a pair of swinging doors of the half-mast type wherein the lower ends of the doors are positioned above the floor.

Figure 16 is a sectional plan illustrating the swinging movement of the door shown in Figure 15.

Figure 17 is a front elevational view showing the hinged element positioned on a folding door.

Figure 18 is a sectional plan through a door of the type illustrated in Figure 17 showing the movement thereof.

Figure 19 is a detail showing a section on line l9-l9 of Figure 1'? illustrating the upper rail or section of a door frame with the improved gravity type swinging door hinge positioned therein.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts the double swinging gravity door hinge of this invention includes a pair of hinges formed with a comon mounting plate having extended hubs on the upper and lower ends and adapted to be mounted on a door jamb, a hinge plate mounted on a door and having a hub positioned between the hubs of the mounting plate, and cam inserts having mounting sleeves positioned in the lower hub of a mounting plate and the hub of the hinged plate with the cam in the hub of the hinge plate in an inverted position, and wherein the cam in the inverted position is resiliently urged against the surface of the lower cam by a spring positioned between the hub of the hinge plate and upper hub of the mounting plate. The mounting plate is used in one position on one side of a door frame and is used in an inverted position on the opposite side of the frame.

In the design shown the hinge at the lower end is formed with an L-shaped mounting plate H] which is positioned on the door jamb or frame, a hinge plate H that is positioned on the edge of the door, a pin 12 and a spring 13, and the hinge at the upper end is provided with a similar mounting plate as indicated by the numeral It which is positioned on the door jamb or frame, a hinge plate as indicated by the numeral 15 mounted on the edge of the door, and a pin l6 with a spring 11.

The hinge mounting plate 10 is provided with outwardly extended hubs l8 and 19 in the ends of which the pin 12 is positioned and a cam 20 having a sleeve 2| extends upwardly from the upper surface of the hub 19 with the sleeve 2| positioned in the hub, as shown in Figure 1. The hinge plate H which is positioned on a door is provided with a hub 22 and an inverted cam 20 is carried by and extends downwardly from the hub 22 with the sleeve 2! in the hub and this cam coacts with the surface of the lower cam 20 in the hub 19 when the door is in the closed position and also when the door is extended on the near side of the frame, as illustrated in Figure 2. The hinge plate I i is journaled on the pin 12 through the hub 22 with the sleeve 21 of the cam 20 positioned in the hub. Keys or pins 23 may be inserted through the hubs i8 and 9 to retain the pin 12 and cam 28 in position.

The sleeve 2| of the inverted cam 20 is secured in the hub 22 by a set screw 24, the cam, sleeve, and hub being free to slide vertically on the pin 12.

The upper mounting plate 14 is provided with hubs 25 and 26 similar to the hubs l8 and i9 and the pin 16 is positioned in these hubs with the sleeve of the cam elements 21 providing bushings in the lower hub and also in the hub 29 of the hinge plate 15. The hinge plate [5 is provided with a hub 29 and the inverted cam 21 is retained in the hub 29 by a screw 24 which extends into the sleeve 28 of the cam.

With the parts arranged in this manner a door carried by the hinge plates II and I5 is elevated by the coacting surfaces of the cams 21 as the door is moved from the closed position to the position on the opposite side of the hinge element as illustrated in Figure 1, and during this movement the surfaces of the cams 20 are separated. As the door is moved from the closed position to the opposite side or to the position shown in Figure 2 the cam surface of the inverted cam 20 rides upon the surface of the lower cam 2!], raising the door to the position shown in Figure 2 and the surfaces of the cams 21 are separated. With the parts arranged in this manner the door remains in the closed position and after it has been opened to either side it will return to the closed position when released. The door is closed by gravity with the inverted cam element 21 sliding downwardly on the lower cam surface, as the door is returned from the position shown in Figure 1, and with the inverted cam element 2B riding downwardly upon the lower cam surface 20 when the door returns to the closed position from the position shown in Figure 2.

It will also be noted in Figures 3 and 4 that the door may be rotated from the closed position to an angle of with the door opening on the near side of the hinge as illustrated in these figures.

The area between the upper end of the plate It] and the lower end of the plate 14 may be filled in with an angle iron having a leg 31 secured to the door jamb by screws and an outwardly extended leg 32, as shown in Figures 1 and 7.

As illustrated in the enlarged scale detail shown in Figures 5 and 6 the upper end of the pin 16 is carried in a bushing 33 in the hub 25, the sleeve 28 of the cam 21 being positioned in the lower hub 25, the lower end of the pin being positioned in the sleeve 28 that is keyed to the pin 16 by a pin 36.

The mounting plates 10 and 14 are similar and when the mounting plate is changed to the opposite side of the door from that shown in Figures 1 and 5 the position of the mounting plate is inverted and the cam is removed and reinserted pointing in the opposite direction so that when turned end for end the cam assumes its original position as shown in Figures 1 and 5 but positioned in the frame or jamb on the right hand side of the frame.

In the modification illustrated in Figures 9 to 18 inclusive the hinge is formed with a mounting plate 35 having a cam surface 38 at the upper end of a hub 31 thereof and a hub 38 is provided at the upper end with a web 39 extended between the hubs.

The mounting plate illustrated in Figures 9 and 10 carries a cam surface similar to the cam surface of the mounting plate 10 shown in Figure 1 and it will be understood that a similar plate may be provided for the upper hinge on which a cam surface corresponding to the surface 21 may be provided.

In this type of hinge the hinge plate 40 positioned on the door is provided with a hub M similar to the hubs 22 and 29 and a cam surface 42 similar to the inverted cam surfaces 20 and 2'! extends downwardly from the hub.

With this type of binge positioned on a pair of doors 43 and 44, such as half mast doors (Figure 15) the doors are free to swing from side to side and will be returned to the closed position by gravity when released. In this design the the door 41 spaced below the member 52.

It will be noted, particularly as illustrated in Figures 1, 5 and 6 that with the cam surface 20 extended upwardly along the pin on one side in the lower hinge, and the cam surface 21 extended upwardly also along the pin on the other side in the upper hinge, with the door swinging from the closed position the surface of the inverted cam 20 will ride upwardly on the surface of the lower cam 20 when the door swings toward the near side of the hinge and the inverted cam surface 21 rides upwardly on the lower cam surface 2! when the door swings toward the far The plates are connected by a pin 59. I Figure 14 shows a further modification whereextends outwardly at an angle. The plates are connected by pins 65 extended through hubs 66.

It will be understood that modifications may 6 be made in the design and arrangement of the invention.

means securing the cam inserts and pin in the hubs.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

